I'm just curious what everyone's stories are. Like, what happened your first time riding and what discipline you rode, and how many years you've been riding and any other interesting stories you might have.

If you're not practicing, someone, somewhere is, and when you meet him, he will win.

I first rode when I was two or three. I was at the county fair and there was an eight year old girl with her appaloosa pony. She hoisted me up onto him and gave me a pony ride. I remember deciding right then that I wanted my own pony.

I had my first riding lesson a few years later. My riding instructor would say, "Turn right!".... and I'd turn left. She'd say "other left!!"

I honestly cannot remember my first rides. I got started when I was just barely old enough to hold my own head up and my Dad would put me in front of him in the saddle while he warmed up his show horses. I do know that my first memory is me sitting in front of him on a gray mare named Showboy's Graydoll at the trailer at a show. I couldn't have been more than 2 years old then. As I grew up, my first mount for myself was a stubborn little mini-burro that stood about 34 inches tall. He was the first animal to ever buck me off too LOL. After him, I kinda went from a tricycle to a tank and my first real horse was a 16hh 1400lb QH. Old Buck taught me so much and since him, I have had a wide range of horses from QH to mustangs to paints, TBs, and drafts.

Always remember that feeling of looking at a big, open country over the ears of a good horse, seeing a new trail unwind ahead of you, and that ever-spectacular view from the top of the ridge!!! Follow my training blog: http://robertsontraining.blogspot.com/

My first ride was probably when I was six. A friend of my aunt's retrains horses on her farm. I remember being so excited to get checked out of grade school to go and ride. She only had one horse that was safe to ride, so me and my sister took turns being led around the outdoor ring. I was so happy that day XD

The horse is God's gift to mankind.Arabian Proverb

As a horse runs, think of it as a game of tag with the wind.Tre Tuberville

I was 5 years old, visiting a school friend of mine. His older brother (maybe 10 yrs old) was horse sitting the neighbor's pony. It was time for him to bring the pony into the barn, and asked me if I wanted to sit on its back while he led it in. YES!!! He didn't lift me up, I had to half climb the fence and then hop sideways onto the pony. My first time!! And bareback! I remember being nervous when I first got on the pony, crouching down and holding tight to the mane. As soon as it started walking, my fear vanished and I sat up with a big grin. I got to ride for 40 whole feet, from paddock to barn. I remember that pony smell, and how the mane felt grasped in my hands. I was hooked!

I went with my mother, father, possibly my brother, as well as my relatives. My three cousins are boys, and the toughest. In the little pony circle there wasn't a carousel, rather they were led. I remember crying several times, staying back with the petting farm. They asked for the fastest horse, who would run around (I don't remember how fast /exactly/ they went, my childish mind probably translated a trot to a handgallop, which is how I remember it. I was mortified.

/Finally/ I struck up the courage to get on. When I did, I was terrified, but I regretted afterwards I didn't spend longer with the ponies. I was scared, I clenched to the horn. Afterwards, I felt great, loved the pony. The lady who worked there was so inspired she gave me a big button with a picture of the horse and her name on it that I still have to this day.

I was just under 2 years old and my cousin put my in front of his jumping saddle on his eventer, Cocoa, then proceeded to jump his cross country course with me tied to the front. It was extremely dangerous looking back on it, but everyone thought it was a great idea at the time (well, until Ant started jumping big, solid logs...). My first proper ride was about two years later on my Uncle's 18hh TB, Altas. My younger cousin and I were placed on Cocoa and Atlas and told to ride. We weren't given lessons, just told to figure it out by ourselves in our far-too-big stock saddles. I've never ridden with a lead line and refuse to teach children who are on them.

...Every rider has that one horse that changes everything about them...

I was thirteen when I got my first real ride on a horse (I'm not counting the hundreds of pony rides at the carnivals).

I had always liked horses, but I really didn't start getting into them until I was 7. I begged and asked and pleaded and cried and pouted for a horse of my own until I was 12, and the answer was always No. So being the stubborn child I was, I thought, "If I can't get a horse, I'll do the next best thing, get riding lessons!"

So for my 13th birthday, I asked for riding lessons. A girl I knew in school was taking riding lessons, and so I thought maybe I can talk to her instructor. I called her and got some information from her and I asked. And begged. And pleaded. And talked about it til I was hoarse. The answer was "we'll see."

And on the day of my birthday, I got my wish, riding lessons, boots, and a helmet. Of course the catch was that my istructor was putting paperwork through (stuff like I can't sue her for injuries I may get riding), but it wasn't going to clear for another month.

August 2006 was the LONGEST month in my entire life.

But I don't remember all the details, but I remember Smoke. Smoke was a 20 year old sorrel QH with four white socks and a big blaze. I remember my instructors daughter teaching me how to saddle a horse. And I remember the first time I sat atop a horse and rode. And thus began my passion, obsession, love, and respect for horses.

I have been riding for 5 years and don't plan on stopping until I'm dead

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